Preparing for publication is not optional, and it doesn’t happen by itself. You do well to think of the process beforehand, make a checklist of steps and then complete each task to the best of your ability. Too many independently published books are finished and then sent into the world on the fly. The authors push the publish button way too soon.

My next book will have the most well-prepared launch I have ever done.

Let me tell you about my launch.

My publication date for Here to Stay / Life in 17th Century Canada is October 15, 2025. How did I get to that date? It was made available to me by a cultural organization that offers public programs.  I was invited to launch my book at their second fall event. I very gratefully accepted the invitation and set this program as my publication date. My outreach points to that date.

The book was essentially ready in April 2025, but I wanted to nurture the launch process. At that point, I asked several people to provide me with a blurb. I felt I could not send the book to these blurbers unless it was near ready. (I told them not to think I was asking them to be editors) Three of the seven I sent requests to said they would contribute blurbs. Since the book is over 300 pages, I gave them three months—until July—to read the book and send their blurbs in. All three were Ph.D.s with concentrations in Canadian history. They had books on Franco-North-American topics.

Then there is the cover design. This included posting the covers on social media and asking people to respond. This process has also been lengthy. It is not yet complete, but I still have another month to finalize the cover.

Make a checklist as I am preparing for publication

Most recently, I wrote up a calendar of tasks to be completed by October 15. This was a wonderful experience of thinking through the launch process and “lining up my duckies.” As I reviewed my list, I found some tasks were placed out of sequence. That is, an earlier task was scheduled later than a subsequent task. This would have led to stalling.

I have enjoyed the process so much that I am scheduling my next (after this one) book way in advance.

My French Boy/A 1950s Franco-American Childhood was a different experience altogether. I slaved for long days—last minute—to get it ready for the publication date. It did not feel good and took away from my enjoyment of what was a considerable achievement.

With Here To Stay, I am applying the carpenter’s maxim: measure twice and saw once.

Action steps

1. If you have not finished your book yet, how long do you estimate it will take you to finish it? Not the first draft, but a draft that you estimate to be somewhat close to the final.

2. Set the publication date at least six months in the future. Shorter or longer may be required to get the launch within a Christmas window. (Most books are sold in the months prior to Christmas.) There will be more work than you think, so don’t be overly optimistic in setting a launch date.

3. Create a checklist of tasks necessary to launch your book. (I will be publishing my schedule in a subsequent blog post.)